Fitting for watch-case springs



(No Model.)

W. H. PITZ GERALD 8: G. 0. SMITH.

FITTING FOR WATCH CASE SPRINGS.

Patented'May 5, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER H. FITZ GERALD AND GEORGE C. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FITTING FOR WATCH-CASE SPRINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,953, dated May 5, 1885.

Application filed May 19, 1884. (No model.) I

the hinged frontwhen thelatter is closed and for throwing open the same when it is unlocked. Heretofore the generally-adopted mode of constructing and fitting catch and lift springs to watch-cases has been to form the spring at one end of and in one piece with a curved bar which is fitted and secured within an inner annular recess in the case by means of one or more pins or screws passing through the bar, which latter constitutes a base for the spring. Springs of such description are manufactured in large quantities, and in fitting them to watch-cases it becomes necessary to grade the springs and otherwise adapt them to the size of case in which they are to be fitted. This frequently involves considerable time and labor, since, as is often the case, the base porthe same to the width of the annular seat or recess in the watch-case or to grade or regulate the spring with reference to the degree of strength which will be best suited for the case to which the spring is applied. For this reason, should either the catch or the lift spring break during use, the spring, including, of course, its long heavy base portion, must be thrown away and replaced by a new one, which, if ordered by a repairer from a manufacturer, involves the following conditions, to wit: First, a spring having a base adapted in size to fit in the annular seat in the case, which, if not found in the spring supplied, must be attained by the repairer in fitting the same, and, next, a spring of the required grade, which,if not found in the spring supplied,must also be a subject for subsequent labor. From this it will be seen that either the manufacturer must keep on hand a large variety of springs or the dealers must be subjected to an expenditure of time and labor in fitting the springs, which will render the re placement of a new for a broken spring an undesirably expensive affair to the purchaser, and in order to keep on hand a full line of such springs, sized and graded for dilferent cases, the assortment must of necessity be large, so as to provide springs of different grades with base portions made of sizes wlnch shall vary with reference to the size of seat destined for their reception rather than with respect to the grade or quality of the spring.

It is the object of our improvement to remedy all of these defects, to cheapen and simplify the manufacture of the springs, to render the replacement of a new for a broken spring a simpler, easier, and cheaper matter, and to admit of a uniformity in the action of the spring being attained in a simpler, better, and more ready way than heretofore. To such end we provide a sectional base-ring for the springs, and form the latter separate from the basering, as hereinafter described, whereby a manufacturer can, in the first instance, fit in the annular seat in the case the sectional basering, with the springs applied thereto, either before or after the base-ring has been fitted to the case, in which way should either spring subsequently break the spring can be changed without any change whatever on the part of its required base-support.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a top plan view of an annular sectional base-support constructed in accordance with our invention, and with the catch and lift springs applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof, and illustrates the lift-spring attached to one of the sections of said base-support. Fig. 3 is a like view illustrating the catchspring fitted in the annular base-support.

View illustrating a stuffing-box formed at the middle of the spring. Figs. 7 and 8 are views which include the several sections of the a11- nular base, and also the catch and lift springs. Fig. 9 represents in part section a portion of one of the sections of the annular base adapted to support a form of lift-spring, which is also included in said figure, and which differs somewhat in form from the lift-spring shown in some of the preceding figures.

Referring by letter to the several figures of the drawings, in which like letters denote like parts, A indicates an annular sectional basesupport for the catch and lift springs, which said support is adapted to fit within the annular groove or seatingusually formed in the center or body of a watch-case. This basesupport consists of an annulus composed of several sections adapted to be detached from each other in order that they can be respectively introduced into the annular groove or seating in the watch-case and connected together as they are placed within the same, so as to form a circular support therein for the springs, as indicated in Fig. 4, in which the annular base-support is shown fitted to a watch-case, B. This annular support is preferably formed of three sections, a, a, and a detachably connected together at their ends in some suitable way, as, for example, by means of a tongue, a, at the end of one section adapted to fit in a notch at the opposing end of an adjoining section.

The preferred construction of lift-spring G and bow-shaped catch-spring D is that secured to us by Letters Patent of the United States on or about the 22d day of April, 1884, which said springs are each double acting, as fully set forth in said patent.

The section a of the annular base-support is provided in its outer side with an oblong notch or recess, E, in which the liftspring is arranged to operate.

The liftspring is pivoted at a point between its ends to the side wall of said recess, and is arranged with its tail end against an abutment, F, and its opposite end normally projecting above the base-support, so as to hold the lid of the watch open when the latter is unlocked. XV hen the lid is closed, however, this end of the lift-spring will be do pressed into the recess E.

lVhen the sections are properly fitted together, the opposing ends of the sections a a do not meet, whereby a space, a Fig. 6, is left between the same for the ste1n,which passes through and operates the catchspring, or this space could be formed by recessing a solid section at a point between its ends. Said sections are also cut away at their opposing ends, so-

by our said patent. Hence, when the stem is pushed inwardly, the spring will to some extent straighten out, while its ends will ride along the side walls of the recess G. In this way the lift-spring will be confined between the case and the walls of one of the recesses in the sectional base, while the catch-spring will be arranged to work for the greater part in a space within the said base.

This sectional base with springs of the character described, or of any other suitable construction, can be fitted to the case by the manufacturer, and, as the size of the base has no reference to the grade of the springs, a saving 011 the cost of manufacture is obviously effected.

Should either spring break while in use, it can be replaced by a like spring without renewing any portion of the base.

lVhile springs of other construction could be employed in connection with this sectional base or holder, yet the construction of springs secured to us by our said Letters Patent is especially desirable, since, in the place of the large heavy springs heretofore required, we

can employ comparatively light and cheap springs, which, having the doubleaction, sub-.

serve all of the functions of a larger spring.

Figure 6 shows the catch-spring, made or provided with a stuffing-box, H, consisting of a hollow boss or small casing, and some suitable packing, I, having a bore for the passage of the stem, which latter will have a shoulder, as usual, whereby when the stem is pushed in, its shoulder will strike against the stuffing box, so as to partially straighten outthc spring, and hence release or unlock the free edge portion of the hinged lid.

As herein illustrated, space is left between the opposing ends of sections a and a of the annular holder or base, in which spa ce'jthe stuffing-box can extend out from the spring.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the sectional base-support for the catch and lift springs can be readily taken apart and subsequently set up in the case, and that it can be readily adjusted therein, so as to bring the springs into proper position.

In Fig. 9 a lift-spring, G, is shown slightly different in form from the springs in some of the preceding figures, the main difference be ing in the form of its tail end 0", which is adapted to enter a recess, E, at one end of recess E. This spring, however, operates like the spring 0, and one of the walls of recess E constitutes an abutment for the same purpose as the abutment F, hereinbefore described.

Having described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. The combination, with a watch-case, of a sectional base-support for the catch and lift springs, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a watch case, of an annular sectional support for the catch and lift springs, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a watch-ease, of

a sectional base-support for the catch and lift springs, fitted within an annular groove or seat in the body of the case, substantially as described.

4.. The annular sectional base support for the catch and lift springs of a watch-case, in combination with a 1ift-spring pivoted in a recess in said support,substantially as described.

5. The annular sectional base support for the catch and lift springs of a watch-case, in combination with a catch spring having its ends fitting loosely in recesses in the base-support, substantially as described.

6. The annular sectional support for the purpose described, provided at the opposing ends of two of its sections with recesses, and notches back of said recesses, in combination with the bow-shaped catch-spring fitted to operate in said recesses, substantially as described.

the catch-spring having a stuffing-box for the 25 stem to pass and work through, said box extending from the spring into a space in the said base, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with a watch-case, of

a sectional base-support for the catch and lift 30 springs, adapted to be taken apart and subsequently fitted together in position 111 the case, substantially as described.

-WALTER H. FITZ GERALD. GEO. G. SMITH.

Witnesses:

XV. W. ELLIOTT, CHAS. G. PAGE. 

